ASF RiverNotes 23 July 2020

Heat stresses Atlantic salmon. That is a “no brainer” when you take into account there is less oxygen dissolved in water as temperatures escalate. Plus the heat itself is a physiological stressor. DFO has established warm water protocols, closing pools where salmon hold when the water temperatures get too hot. These rules have been widely embraced by the angling community.

However, at any time in the summer there are general rules to follow that can significantly reduce mortality associated with live release: take control of your catch and land fish quickly, keep them wet and limit the time they are exposed to the air, if at all.

Cooling the Streams

In addition to responsible and respectful angling, there are things we can do to enhance and safeguard the cold water entering our rivers.

To learn more, check out this blog written in  blog written in April by Nathan Wilbur entitled Thermal Refuge

You can check out the background to the warm water protocols in NB, NL and on the Margaree:

DFO Gulf Region NB:

https://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/346488.pdf

DFO NL

https://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/348302.pdf

Margaree River

https://www.margareesalmon.ca/2019/06/29/2019-warm-water-protocol/

To check out the various orders, go to this page:

http://www.glf.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Gulf/FAM/Recreational-Fisheries/Salmon

Keep the best interest of the Atlantic salmon at heart.

DFO has again closed the cold water pools, as of Tues. July 21.

Closure of cold water pools in the Miramichi River system

Fisheries and Oceans Canada wishes to inform the public that the 27 salmon fishing pools in the Miramichi River system, reopened since July 17, 2020 due to improvement of water conditions, will be closed to angling for all species of fish due to warm waters. This closure will start Tuesday, July 21, 2020 and will remain in place until conditions improve, as per the strategy implemented in cooperation with local partners to respond to warm waters conditions.

Reminder: please note that the three following pools will remain closed until December 31, 2020:

• Confluence of Sutherland Brook and Northwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Sutherland Brook upstream to the Highway 420
• Waters of the Southwest Miramichi River in Quarryville, 300 m upstream and 300 m downstream of the Quarryville Bridge, including Indian Town Brook from its confluence with the Southwest Miramichi River, upstream to Highway 108 bridge
• Confluence of Wilson Brook and Southwest Miramichi River, including the waters of Wilson Brook 100 m upstream of its mouth, an area locally known as the Bear Den;

St. John River

The numbers of returns to Mactaquac are again dismal. There were 101 large salmon to July 15, 2020 compared with 164 in the previous year. The average from 1997 to 2001 was 789.

There were just 192 grilse to the same date compared with 378 in 2019. The average for 1997 to 2001 was 1,575.

Perhaps it is instructive to see how concerning the numbers are when compared to a harvest overview for the years up to 1981. As we are all aware, numbers have dropped to levels critical so that live release only needs to be enforced. See below

The Northwest Miramichi Barrier has shown an interesting and positive direction, with 112 large salmon and 59 grilse counted to July 19. In 2019 there were just 35 large salmon counted, plus 77 grilse.

These numbers are still low, but the improvement in large salmon is an excellent move. Is it due to the improvement in monitoring of harvests in West Greenland?

The Dungarvon Barrier, a measure for the Southwest Miramichi, has had 57 large salmon and 66 grilse to July 19, very slightly ahead of last year’s 60 grilse and 53 large salmon.

Rivière Saint-Paul River

Local resident and friend of the Atlantic salmon Garland Nadeau is reporting some of the best angling ever. Overall, the great run of fish started 10 days early in June with excellent numbers of large salmon and followed by a very good grilse run (especially the 6-pound component that are famous on this river) being angled as well as being observed.

Mr. Nadeau is a proud resident of St-Paul River on the lower north shore of Quebec and is very conscious of the salmon resources’ fragility in the face of the Caplan fishery in and around the St-Paul archipelago. “The purse seiners are out there too close to shore at the same time the smolts are heading out to sea and these are undoubtedly being caught by the commercial fisherman,” says Mr. Nadeau. He has been a great help to the MFFP and DFO staff, keeping them informed on human activity in fresh and salt water in his area of salmon country.

Monsieur Garland Nadeau, ami du saumon atlantique partage le fait que la pêche sportive cette année est excellente sur sa rivière préférée. La montaison hâtive d’environ 10 jours plus tôt que d’habitude s’est démarquée par la présence d’un nombre accru de grands saumons suivis d’une excellente montée de madeleineaux (surtout la catégorie de 6 lb qui est renommée sur la rivière Saint-Paul).

Résident de longue date du village de rivière Saint-Paul situé le long de la basse côte nord du Saint-Laurent, monsieur Nadeau est éveillé au fait que la ressource saumon est très fragile face aux activités des seineurs commerciaux de capelan, que d’après lui, pêchent trop proches des berges et des endroits où les saumoneaux entreprennent leurs périples vers la mer. Il est également quelqu’un qui ne se gêne pas de communiquer avec les agents du MFFP et du MPO lorsqu’il observe des activités douteuses qui peuvent nuire au saumon atlantique sauvage.

Rivières York, Dartmouth, Saint-Jean Rivers

The most up to date results are available at:

https://saumongaspe.com/en/peche-saumon-gaspe/statistiques.html

Les statistiques les plus récentes sont disponible au :

https://saumongaspe.com/en/peche-saumon-gaspe/statistiques.html

Rivière Matane River

As of July19th for the season, 1,469 fish (1,050 salmon and 419 grilse) have migrated through the fishway.

To July 19th 2019, 807 salmon and 345 grilse had been counted for total of 1,152. Regarding fish landed by anglers to date in 2020, the SOGERM is reporting a total of 160 fish (142 salmon and 18 grilse released, 72 grilse harvested).

To July 19, 2019, 119 fish (126 salmon and 19 grilse released, 74 grilse harvested) had been reported landed.

Au 19 juillet, 1 469 poissons (1,050 saumons et 419 madeleineaux) furent dénombrés par le biais de la passe migratoire. Au 19 juillet 2019, 807 saumons et 345 madeleineaux avaient été dénombrés pour un total de 1,152.

En ce qui concerne les prises à ce jour en 2020, la SOGERM fait rapport d’un total de 160 poissons (142 saumons et 18 madeleineaux relâchés, 72 madeleineaux récoltés).

Au 19 juillet 2019, 119 prises furent déclarées (126 saumons et 19 madeleineaux relâchés, 74 madeleineaux récoltés).

Rivière Mitis River

To July 20th, at total of 1,117 fish have been transported upriver (613 large salmon and 504 grilse). In comparison to 2019 at the end of season on September 30th, 976 fish (503 salmon 473 grilse) had been relocated upriver.

To date in 2020, 58 salmon have been released and 54 grilse harvested. As of July 22nd, for the season last year, 25 salmon had been released and 27 grilse harvested.

Au 20 juillet 2020, les gestionnaires de la Mitis sont plus que satisfaits des résultats de montaison et la performance du nouveau piège de capture. À date, 1 117 poissons furent transportés en aval du site de capture, dont 613 grands saumons et 504 madeleineaux.

Au 20 juillet, les résultats de pêche cumulatifs indiquent que 58 saumons furent relâchés et 54 madeleineaux récoltés. Comparativement au 22 juillet 2019 lorsque 25 saumons furent déclarés relâchés et que 27 madeleineaux avaient été récoltés.

Rivière Madeleine River

To July 20th, 1,000 fish have been counted migrating through the fishway (584 large salmon and 416 grilse.

This season’s numbers compare favourably to the same date in 2019 when a total of 383 fish (277 large salmon and 106 grilse) had been counted.

Cumulativement au 20 juillet 2020, 1 000 poissons ont migré par le biais de la passe migratoire, dont 584 grands saumons et 416 madeleineaux).

À la même date en 2019, cumulativement, 383 poissons furent dénombrés, dont 277 grands saumons et 106 madeleineaux.

Rivière Bonaventure River

This season to July 18th, 612 fish have been reported landed including 416 salmon released and 196 grilse that were harvested. In 2019 on July 20th, to date, 569 fish had been reported landed including 460 salmon released and 109 grilse harvested.

Cette saison au 18 juillet, jusqu’à ce jour, 612 prises ont été déclarées dont 416 saumons remis à l’eau et la récolte de 196 madeleineaux.

Cumulativement au 20 juillet 2019, les saumoniers avaient déclaré 569 prises, dont 460 saumons remis à l’eau et 109 madeleineaux récoltés.

The Newfoundland DFO river counts to July 19 are published. Unfortunately they need to be looked on with a degree of scepticism, as the Covid-19 work protocols have meant many of the barriers were not in place and operating until some time after they normally would be. DFO at this time does not have listed the dates when counts began in 2020.

That aside, there are a number of encouraging observations to be made.

The Exploits is back. With nearly 15,000 returns to July 19, that is more than double last year’s 6,184 to the same date. Certainly the Exploits should be considered one of the five rivers with highest salmon returns in North America, at least in the past decade.

Rattling Brook with 374 this year vs 26 last year needs to be given some applause.

Terra Nova had a surprisingly good year in 2019, and is following that with another good year in 2020 – 2,218 to July 19

But east coast and south coast Newfoundland streams are worrisome in their low numbers this year. Northeast River (Placentia) has 135 vs 209 last year.The Garnish has 31 vs 188. The Conne on the south coast has only 110 to July 19, vs 383 last year, and 1984 to 1991 averages of 5,884.

For the Conne, that is less than 2 per cent of the returns in that 1984 to 1991 period. The fact the genetics have been compromised by addition of aquaculture escapees certainly needs to be considered as a large component of this 98 per cent decline.

On the west coast, Little Barachois Brook has 689 vs 362, and seems to go with anecdotal information that Bay St. George Rivers are dong well in 2020.

Western Arm Brook also is having a better year, with 304 to July 19, vs 158.

Alas, both Harry’s River and Torrent River have fallen victim to Covid-19 health and safety protocols.

From DFO’s counting fence info, the first thing to be noted is that the Sand Hill is another victim of Covid-19 in 2020. No counts at all.

Beyond that, both barrier counts to July 19 and anecdotal information is encouraging.

With English Bay Brook at 34, compared with zero in 2019, with Muddy Bay Brook at 139 vs. 47, and Paradise River at 93 vs 9, the returns are looking up compared with last year.